Season’s beatings from AEW!

I’m dreaming of a Dynamite Christmas! Here’s an early present from AEW: CM Punk, Sting & Darby Allin take on The Pinnacle’s MJF & FTR!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Adam Cole VS Orange Cassidy; Cole wins.
• Wardlow w/ Shawn Spears VS Shawn Dean; Wardlow wins.
• TBS Championship Tournament Semifinal: Nyla Rose w/ Vickie Guerrero VS Ruby Soho; Soho wins and advances to the finals.
• Malakai Black VS Griff Garrison w/ Brian Pillman Jr; Malakai wins.
• Six Man Tag: MJF & FTR VS CM Punk, Darby Allin & Sting; Punk, Darby & Sting win.

PLAY BY PLAY

Adam Cole VS Orange Cassidy!

We’re kicking off the festivities with a bang, BAYBAY! But will Cole show Freshly Squeezed it’s all about the boom?

The bell rings, fans rally and duel, and Cole talks trash as he steps to Cassidy. Cole dares Cassidy to cross the line in the sand, and Cassidy… walks around it! And then Cassidy dares Cole to do the same! Cole and Cassidy get face to face, Cole winds it up, “ADAM COLE, BAYBAY!” Cassidy makes Cole put his hands in Cassidy’s pockets! Coles shoves Cassidy, Cassidy dodges to get a headlock and takeover. Cole fights but Cassidy gives him a kiss on the cheek. Cole throws Cassidy away, kicks low and returns the headlock takeover. Cole says, “Don’t you EVER do that again!” Cassidy rolls Cole to a cover, TWO! Cassidy hits an arm-drag! Then he avoids Cole’s arm-drag! Oklahoma Roll, TWO!

Cassidy gets the headlock takeover back and fans cheer the exchange. Cole fights up, brings Cassidy to a knee and slips out the back to hammerlock then headlock. Cassidy returns the favor, steps over the arm, then gets the headlock. Cole throws elbows, then ROCKS Cassidy with a forearm! Cole headlocks, Cassidy powers out to get the headlock. Cole powers out, Cassidy avoids the headlock to get the headlock and takeover! Fans cheer but Cole fights with forearms to Cassidy’s face. Cole gets a headscissor, Cassidy bounces around to pop free, and then he stands up. Cassidy checks his neck, and fans cheer as the two reset.

Cassidy and Cole circle. they tie up but Cole kicks low! Cole wrenches to a wristlock, Cassidy reaches for rope but Cole keeps him away. Cole keeps Cassidy from the ropes again, so Cassidy rolls, handsprings and wrenches back! Fans cheer as Cassidy has the wristlock, then the headlock then the arm-drag! Then he rolls Cole around to a ghost pin, TWO! Cole kicks low, snapmares, and wraps on a chinlock. Cassidy endures, fans rally up, and Cassidy fights up. Cassidy pries free, gets a headlock, but Cole powers out. Cassidy goes up and over in the corner to schoolboy, TWO! Cole swings into a backslide! TWO, but Cassidy whips Cole.

Cole reverses, Cassidy goes up and over again but into a BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! Cole throws hands on Cassidy, wrenches and whips him corner to corner hard, and Cassidy bounces off buckles! Cole flexes but fans boo as he wrenches and whips Cassidy again. Cassidy hits buckles, Cole runs in, but Cassidy elbows him back. Cassidy boots Cole, then hops up, only for Cole to ROCK him with a right hand! Cole climbs up to join Cassidy, but Cassidy resists the superplex. Cole CLUBS Cassidy again and again, tries again, but Cassidy shoves Cole down! Cassidy leaps, CROSSBODY! Cassidy keeps moving, he ducks and dodges to tilt-o-whirl and DDT! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally as Cassidy goes to a corner. Cassidy climbs up, but the Young Bucks and Brandon Cutler creep out onto the stage. They head for ringside, but Cassidy LEAPS onto Cutler! No cold spray for you! But here come Best Friends! Trent, Chuck & Wheeler make sure the Bucks and Cutler stay down! Cassidy dodges Cole to DIVE onto the Bucks! The brawling continues up the ramp, but Cole RAMS Cassidy into steel steps! And then AGAIN! Cole is seething, but he brings the kneepad down. Cole lines it up, runs in, but Cassidy moves! The Boom hits steps! Cole clutches his knee and writhes as AEW goes picture in picture!

Cassidy gets up while the ref checks on Cole. Cole is okay to continue, Cassidy brings him up and RAMS him into railing! Cassidy “stalks” Cole, brings him up, lazy fist bumps the kid dressed as Cassidy, and then whips Cole into more railing! Cole flounders, Cassidy refreshes the ring count and even lounges a second before going back outside. Cassidy brings Cole up but Cole whips Cassidy into railing now! Cole walks off the pain in his knee to get in the ring and refresh the count. Cole drags Cassidy up to RAM him back into railing! Cole drags Cassidy up to put him in the ring, and then Cole JAMS his knee into Cassidy’s back. Cole gets the arms for a motorcycle stretch!

Cassidy endures, fights up, powers up, but Cole keeps him from putting hands in his pockets. Cassidy keeps trying, Cole keeps trying to stop him, so Cole throws a body shot! Cole whips, Cassidy ducks and dodges, DOUBLE LARIATS take both men down! Both men stir, a standing count begins, and AEW returns to single picture as fans count along. Both men sit up at 5 and Cole throws a forearm! Cassidy “chops” back! Cole ROCKS Cassidy with a forearm, dares Cassidy to hit him, so Cassidy “chops” again. Cole throws another forearm, Cassidy throws a “haymaker.” Cole throws another forearm, Cassidy “fires off” the shin kicks!

Cassidy powers up for Sweet Shin Music, but he dodges Cole’s clothesline to SUPERKICK! Cole uses 52 Fake Out! But Cassidy rolls Cole up, Cole rolls through, Cassidy SUPERKICKS! Cassidy gets Cole but Cole suplexes for GHOSTBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Cole is frustrated, he drags Cassidy up, fireman’s carries, but Cassidy fights free! Fans are fired up for Freshly Squeezed but Cole shoves and BOOTS! Then suplexes, STUN-DOG MILLIONAIRE! Cassidy runs in at the corner, but Cole moves! Cassidy goes out and up and FLYING DDT! Cover, TWO!! Cole survives and a new standing count begins!

Cassidy is up at 3 and he drags Cole up, but Cole fireman’s carries! USHIGOROSHI! Then a basement BOOT knocks Cassidy down! Cole wants Cassidy to stay down, but then Cole drags Cassidy to a drop zone. Cole hops up, takes aim, but Cassidy scoots back to stay away. Cole rushes over, but into a cradle! TWO!! Cassidy scoops, MICHINOKU DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Cole survives again! Cassidy goes to a corner and he puts on the sunglasses! Fans fire up, Cassidy climbs again, hands in pockets, and jumps, into a SUPERKICK! Cole goes up the corner, takes aim, PANAMA SUNRISE!! Cover, TWO!!? HOW?! Cole is shocked, and Greensboro is thunderous!

Cole brings his kneepad back down, sits Cassidy up, but Cassidy ducks the Boom! Alabama lift, BEACH BREAK!! TWO!?!? Cole returns the favor of the shocking survival! Cassidy throws off his armband and fans fire up! Cassidy aims, runs but Cole bails out to avoid the Orange Punch! Bobby Fish rushes down now and gets in the ref’s face about this. But wait, from out of the crowd! It’s KYLE O’REILLY!! AX ‘N’ SMASH!! Bobby bails, Kyle hides, Cole hits THE BOOM!! Cover, Cole wins!

Winner: Adam Cole, by pinfall

The Violent Artist has joined Cole and Fish in AEW, but are they friends or foes? The Best Friends rush back, Cole & Kyle fight them off! Fish helps out, and they’re mugging Trent & Chuck! Bobby & Kyle set up Chuck, Cole SUPERKICKS Chuck down! And then reDRagon gets Trent up for HIGH LOW!! The Bucks return, they’re wondering what’s going on here. Is this the Christmas gift Cole meant? Apparently, but is Cole Elite or Undisputed? Can’t he be both?

AEW has a BIG match set for the TBS debut!

After their ONE HOUR time limit draw at Winter is Coming, we’re getting Hangman Page VS Bryan Danielson II for Dynamite on January 5th! Will TBS see that Dynamite is “The Best Show?”

Tony Schiavone is in the ring!

Nothing like being in the Greensboro Coliseum! But let’s welcome from Virginia, the AEW World Champion, Hangman Page! The Cowboy is here and fans are fired up! Schiavone welcomes the champion, and says in two weeks, the rematch is part of the TBS debut. Schiavone wants to say that last week’s match was one of the greats in AEW history, and Hangman was so close to winning before time ran out. Hangman is handed the mic and he says he’ll stop that all here. After 60 minutes, covered in sweat and blood, his one arm barely hanging on and barely any air in his body, Hangman was handed back the title.

As AEW went to commercial, Hangman managed to get up the ramp, and he looked back at the title. He saw his reflection in it, and thought that it was a bit funny. In his three years in AEW, last week, he’d never felt less of a champion. “So the feeling from last week, the only feeling that I have, is disappointment.” But here comes Bryan Danielson to say, “Wait, wait, wait! Wait. Wait. Wait.” Fans chant, “YES! YES! YES!” but Bryan still wants us to wait. “Entitled Millennial Cowboy still has the AEW Championship around his shoulder, and he’s disappointed. Aww…! Poor cowboy! Let’s show all the people your emotions about how disappointed you are.”

You know who should be disappointed? The AEW fans! Bryan says he kicked Hangman’s ass for sixty minutes, and if anyone should be champion, it should be him! Fans are torn on that one. But Bryan isn’t someone who’s gonna come out and cry about things, or say how sad he is. No. The rematch is January 5th, and Bryan will just kick Hangman’s ass again. But here’s what Bryan doesn’t want to happen. Hangman survived sixty minutes because Bryan’s match with John Silver, he hurt his leg a little, or else he would’ve destroyed Hangman. But Bryan won’t wrestle in front of these idiots here tonight, or next week, or until January 5th!

But here’s another problem: if Hangman Page goes out there on the 5th, and stalls for sixty minutes to escape with the title, we just end up in the same situation, where the rightful champion standing right here empty handed, “and that piece of Cowboy Shit standing in the ring with the title.” But Bryan isn’t here to complain, he is not entitled. He came here with a solution! Here’s what Bryan proposes: January 5th, there are judges, so that if Hangman tries to stall, everyone will see and know that the true AEW World Heavyweight Champion is Bryan Danielson! Fans are chanting no? They don’t want that? Surely these idiots know he won that match!

Hangman says that Bryan’s real creative. Did it take him all week to come up with judges? Because Hangman came up with an Ironman match, Ladder match, Cage match, hell even an Inferno match, and just a match with no time limits. Because Bryan did something that no one’s done: took Hangman past 30, 40 and 50 minutes, out into those deep waters. Bryan tried to hold Hangman under, but the final seconds, the ones that counted, Hangman swam. If Hangman had three more seconds, he would’ve drowned Bryan. But y’know what? If they keep the time limit and they add judges, fine! Give some old guys a payday.

But Bryan better make sure he pays them in advance, cuz they won’t earn it. Hangman’s come way too far for this title. Hangman’s spilled far too much blood for this title! He has given way too much of himself for this title to have some old pricks sit at ringside to tell Hangman he’s not good enough, he’s not a champion, he’s only a B+ player. Because that’s just horseshit. So if the question is, “Can Hangman Adam Page beat Bryan Danielson in less than one hour?” In two weeks, the answer is… “YES!” Bryan says, “How dare you!” Hangman dares Bryan to do more, but enough’s been said! Who will be the title match judges? And will they be needed if we get another time limit draw?

MJF speaks with The Pinnacle.

He didn’t want the cameras here for this, but whatever. MJF thanks Shawn Spears being a great accountabilibuddy, and Wardlow did great with the post-match acquisition of champagne. That should’ve been done way before the match was over, and way before MJF & FTR got attacked by “those three Mid shmucks,” CM Punk, Sting & Darby Allin. Just outta curiosity, MJF’s paying Wardlow a lot of money to protect him, correct? He sure does. Well then they can only blame Punk. This is what Punk does to people. He drives them insane, and has burned every single bridge in his career.

That’s why MJF isn’t worried tonight. #MJFTR isn’t a team, it’s a family! And Punk knows nothing about that cuz he’s a loner. “Much like that emo skateboarding punk and his creepy clown uncle,” those three aren’t going to be able to coexist. Fans might’ve been fooled but not MJF. MJF knows Punk made the save for himself. Everything has to be about Punk, and when it’s not, that’s when the REAL Punk comes out to play. Is that more low hanging fruit? Punk just says that to hide the truth. But here’s the truth: inside the ring, Punk is rustier than the knife Darby uses to skin small animals. The fact is, that fake nice guy mask is slipping off faster than Sting’s Crusty the Clown make-up. And the fact is, when MJF gave Punk the opportunity to shake his hand and walked away, he chose early retirement!

Dax Harwood speaks up, saying FTR had no problems with Punk. But when someone threatens Dax’s position, his livelihood, his family, then there is a problem. The Pinnacle is Dax’s family. You’re looking at the three kings of pro-wrestling! If you wanna be a king, you gotta kill one, and those three don’t have the balls to do it. The Pinnacle is a family, a unified group, the absolute best unit in this world! Cuz when you’re Pinnacle, you’re always on top. But will MJFTR be knocked down from their perch by those they call misfits?

Wardlow w/ Shawn Spears VS Shawn Dean!

Obviously, the accountabilibuddy is with Pinnacle’s War Dog again. Will Spears keep Wardlow from going overboard against the Captain?

The bell rings and fans chant, “Wardlow’s gonna kill~ you!” Wardlow and Dean tie up, and Wardlow throws Dean down! Wardlow reels Dean in and fans know what’s coming! POWERBOMB! That’s one, and Spears wants Wardlow to leave it at that. But fans want “ONE MORE TIME!” so Wardlow obliges! ANOTHER POWERBOMB! Spears says that’s good, but Wardlow gets Dean up for a THIRD POWERBOMB! The Symphony is only getting going! A FOURTH POWERBOMB! Cocky cover, Wardlow wins!

Winner: Wardlow, by pinfall

And then Spears adds on with chair shots! Wardlow rolls his eyes but Spears raises Wardlow’s hand in victory. Spears says it’s time to go, and Wardlow seems very annoyed. When will the Pinnacle’s most powerful member get the respect he deserves?

AEW looks at the Christmas TNT Championship match.

Excalibur says Christmas is a great night for pro-wrestling. Sammy Guevara remembers back to the very first Dynamite, and his match with Cody Rhodes. That was Sammy’s biggest match then, but now tides have turned. Schiavone reminds us that Cody was the inaugural TNT Champion, and he put in the work defending that title. He cut such a frantic pace, but so has Sammy. A win over that former champion could cement Sammy’s reign. But if Cody can become a two-time TNT Champion, and on Christmas night, a night Dusty Rhodes once reigned supreme, it’d be a very special moment. Sammy says, “You think this is gonna be your present? Hell no!” All Cody’s getting is coal and an ass kicking. Will the Spanish God reign on the American Nightmare’s holidays?

Dan Lambert & The Men of the Year are in the nosebleeds.

Lambert quotes Shakespeare, “Heavy is the head that wears the crown.” Kings and queens of yesteryear knew that their position to make decisions over the lives of other people was not just a great privilege, but also a responsibility for justice. Lambert doesn’t expect people here to understand that. Their greatest difficulties are whether or not to download the latest updates on their cellphones, or to turn off the light in the mother’s basement and get outta the house. But to leaders like himself, Lambert knows those words ring true today. He leads the most successful MMA gym on the planet! He knows that every decision he makes must be fair to create a level playing field so the most successful are also the most deserving.

But Tony CONMAN is the flipside to that! Khan uses the buddy system! If you’re his buddy, you’re an EVP and you get every chance to shine. If not, it’s opening match status or backstage vignettes for the rest of your career. Scorpio Sky was one of the first AEW World Tag Team Champions. He’s the only man to pin Chris Jericho twice. Ethan Page has dressed better, wrestled better and won better than anybody since he got here. Yet these two studs are stuck on the sidelines Christmas night watching Cody get yet another title shot, against Sammy Guevara. If that doesn’t prove Lambert’s point, here’s the most blatant example of all of how Khan sets someone he doesn’t like up for failure.

Just look how they’re treating Lambert! “Put yourself in an impossible situation. An utterly hopeless condition. Given an assignment you can never successfully complete! He actually wants me to get you to cheer for Cody Rhodes!” The Men of the Year laugh as Lambert says Cody’s a bigger dick than Lambert! “Newsflash: I don’t give a damn who you cheer for or who you boo. I don’t care if it’s Cody or Sammy standing tall at the end of that match on Christmas night. My only concern is that one of these guys gets the next title match. And when they do, we won’t need any help from the owner of the company to bring that title back to American Top Team!”

Lambert leaves it at that as the Closer and All Ego both claim next. Will either of them be ready for whoever comes out of Holiday Bash Part 2 the TNT Champion?

Schiavone interviews Britt Baker backstage.

Britt says Merry Christmas and wishes us a Happy AEW Holiday Bash. Ew, was that a bug on her chair? They’re never coming back to Greensboro. Schiavone wanted to talk about Battle of the Belts and Britt’s title match with Riho. Britt’s never beaten Riho 1v1. Yeah, well, she’s bigger, stronger and most importantly, the AEW Women’s World Champion, and she also has Jamie Hayter by her side. Uh, Rebel’s here, too. Well, even Hayter lost to Riho recently. Hayter slashes her throat at Schiavone for that comment. Britt says if they’re going to bring up the past, then let’s talk about all of 2021. You can’t bring up this year without calling it the Era of the DMD.

And here’s why: Britt didn’t slide in and take someone’s spot, and she didn’t inherit a throne. In fact, Britt built her own throne and her own kingdom! She’s built the division from the ground up, and she’s a pillar of this entire company! She is the pulse of AEW! And if you think 2022 is going to start with Riho, that little brat who just gets a title match whenever she wants, dethroning Britt, you have another thing coming. Riho should’ve just stayed under the bottom rope at All Out. Britt knows Riho wants a title for Christmas, but Riho’s outta her league. “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid.” Merry Christmas from Yours Truly, Britt Baker, DMD.

AEW looks back on Owen Hart.

To Mark Henry, Owen Hart represented family. Owen taught Mark a lot about how to get into the business. If someone ribs you, rib ’em back. Adam Cole says Owen was very influential. He made Cole appreciate the technical side of pro-wrestling. Cole loved watching Owen and Bret, and then Owen in NJPW. Owen was one of the best. Matt Hardy says Owen’s mark on the industry is showing the smaller, athletic and acrobatic wrestlers are absolutely important to pro-wrestling. 2point0 saw Owen Hart as the coolest guy, it was mind-blowing.

Hardy adds Owen was a groundbreaker, an innovator, and he really opened up the style of pro-wrestling, especially for “smaller” guys, the ones who weren’t 6’8″ and 380 pounds. Eddie Kingston, the way he grew up, a real man takes care of his family. That was Owen Hart. Dusty Rhodes says Owen was an incredible family man, an incredible wrestler and story teller, as well as ribber. One of the all time greats. Mark says Owen will go down as someone who brought fun and life to pro-wrestling. Shawn Spears says everyone should strive to be that kind of person. If you’re as gifted as Owen, and to have a beautiful soul, how much more can you ask for?

Cole says the reason Owen’s legacy will go on is because of how you constantly hear about the kind of man he was. Those who shared a locker room with him tell stories of how wonderful he was, and so it isn’t just about what he did in the ring, but who he was as a person.

TBS Championship Tournament Semifinal: Nyla Rose w/ Vickie Guerrero VS Ruby Soho!

The Native Beast got a first round bye and crushed Hikaru Shida. But the Runaway fought her way from round one against Penelope Ford to then defeat the Galaxy’s Greatest Alien, Kris Statlander. Will Ruby keep that run going? Or will she be eaten alive by this Vicious Vixen?

But while Ruby’s on the ropes waving to the fans, Nyla attacks! The bell rings as Nyla stomps away then throws body shots! Nyla pulls Ruby’s jacket off, stomps her down, then rains down fists! Fans boo, Nyla drags Ruby up and CLUBS her down! Nyla says Ruby’s’ jacket is stupid cuz it can’t even come off properly. Ruby finally gets free of her jacket, and she fires off CHOPS and forearms on Nyla! Ruby stomps a foot, sobats then front kicks, but runs into a SWAT! Nyla stomps Ruby more, then claws Ruby’s face! The ref reprimands and counts, Nyla lets off to bump Ruby off buckles. Nyla TOSSES Ruby corner to corner, then drags Ruby up to whip to ropes.

Ruby tilt-o-whirls through, and has the cording hold! Ruby fires off forearms and elbows, then ducks the clothesline. But Nyla blocks the STO with pure power, to URENAGE Ruby right down! Nyla drags Ruby back up, reels her in, but Ruby fights free to wrench, only for Nyla to CLOBBER her! Nyla drags Ruby back up, throws her out of the ring, and goes out after her. Nyla leaps from the apron to AX HANDLE Ruby down! Nyla fish hooks Ruby’s face to make her look at the camera and puppet her mouth. Ruby fights free to CHOP and CHOP back! Nyla kicks low, but Ruby blocks the apron bump to ROCK Nyla with forearms and uppercuts!

Ruby headbutts Nyla again and again and again as fans fire up! Vickie is furious as Ruby runs in, but Vickie gets Nyla out of the way! Ruby hits steps and Vickie laughs at Ruby’s pain. Nyla gets in the ring while AEW goes picture in picture.

Nyla goes back out to scoop and SLAM Ruby on the floor! Nyla then gets back in the ring to soak up the heat. Ruby writhes, a ring count starts, and it’s already 5 of 10 while Ruby is still down. Ruby drags herself up at and in at 7! Nyla scoops Ruby to SLAM her again! And then Nyla drops a leg! Cocky one hand cover, TWO! Nyla is frustrated, so she takes Ruby’s hand and BITES it! The ref reprimands, Nyla stops, then drags Ruby up. Ruby throws body shots and forearms, then she whips. Nyla blocks with power, whips Ruby to a corner, but Ruby elbows her back! Ruby goes up to headscissors, but Nyla pops her up to an Electric Chair!

Ruby fights back, but Nyla blocks the Poison-Rana to INVERTED ALABAMA SLAM Ruby into buckles! The ref checks on Ruby but somehow she’s okay to continue. Nyla drags her to a cover, TWO!! Ruby lives and Nyla is annoyed. Nyla stands on Ruby’s hand while raining down rights! Cover, TWO! Vickie shouts at the ref but Nyla drags Ruby up to scoop and SLAM again. Nyla runs and SPLASHES onto knees! AEW returns to single picture as Ruby LARIATS! Nyla stays up, so Ruby LARIATS again! Ruby dodges Nyla, blocks a kick to KNEE and SUPERKICK and ENZIGURI! Fans fire up with Ruby as she runs at the ropes, but Nyla blocks the monkey flip!

Nyla bounces Ruby off ropes, but Ruby uses that to TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO!! Ruby is beside herself as Nyla bails out. Ruby goes to the apron, but Nyla looks under the ring? Nyla gets a chair! But Ruby DROPKICKS it into Nyla’s face! Vickie is upset while Nyla is down on the outside! Fans rally up, Ruby drags Nyla up and into the ring. Ruby climbs a corner, the ref checks on Nyla, and Vickie gets up on the apron to shove Ruby down! Ruby hotshots off ropes, and Nyla hurries to get Ruby draped over them! Nyla goes up, FLYING KNEE! Cover, TWO?!? Vickie is fuming and Nyla is shocked! Ruby clutches her arm, the ref has Nyla stay back.

The ref checks on Ruby but Ruby refuses to quit. So Nyla drags Ruby up to wrench and hammerlock the arm, to RAM it into the buckles! Nyla runs in, but Ruby BOOTS her! Ruby fires forearms with the good arm, and even CHOPS! Nyla CHOPS, then scoops Ruby, but Ruby turns that to a dragon sleeper! Nyla calls to Vickie, the ref is busy with Vickie again! Ruby lets Nyla go and then KICKS Vickie down! Nyla gets Ruby up for a BEAST BOMB!! Cover, TWO?!?!? HOW?!?! Nyla is foaming at the mouth! Nyla drags Ruby but Greensboro is thunderous! Nyla drags Ruby up the corner, but Ruby turns that into a SUPER NO FUTURE!!! Cover, Ruby wins!!!

Winner: Ruby Soho, by pinfall (advances to the finals)

Ruby took on Nyla and Vickie and she still won, with just one arm! But is Ruby just one win away from being the first-ever AEW TBS Champion?

Serena Deeb speaks.

After Hikaru Shida used the loose turnbuckle against Deeb, Deeb asks, “How can you call yourself a winner after what you did to me last week? You cheated your way to another tainted victory!” Shida has never decisively beaten Deeb, and this is far from over! This will go on and on until Deeb finishes her! Next time, Shida will be begging Khan to keep Deeb away from her for good! A bit revisionist from the Woman of 1000 Holds, but is nothing going to hold her back from breaking the Full Metal Warrior?

Malakai Black VS Griff Garrison w/ Brian Pillman Jr!

Talk about a nightmare before Christmas! The Dark Father stained Julia Hart with the dark mist, and the Ivy League MVP is furious over it! Will Griff avenge the Varsity Blond’s two-time cheerleading champion? Or will he be the next soul to Fade to Black?

The bell rings and Griff goes right at Malakai, but gets a ROUNDHOUSE for it! Griff goes down and sits up in a daze. Malakai crouches to talk to Griff, then runs, to go out and target BPJ! BPJ throws off his jacket, he’s ready! But then Griff DIVES and takes Malakai down at the ramp! Griff gets Malakai in, throws forearms, and Greensboro is behind their hometown hero! Griff fires off, but spins into Malakai’s KICK! And another! And another! Malakai then hits body scissor takedown to have the HEEL HOOK! Griff endures, scrambles over and gets the ROPEBREAK! Malakai holds on until 4, then takes his time. Fans rally for Griff and Griff ROCKS Malakai back!

Malakai fires off strikes and then KICKS away in the corner! Malakai throws a forearm then KICKS the leg! Malakai wants the leg but Griff hits back, so Malakai KICKS again. Malakai whips but Griff reverses to send Malakai into ropes! Malakai sputters, fans rally up, and Malakai storms over, into a BOOT! Griff hits a ROLLING ELBOW! Cover, TWO!! Malakai survives that Ivy League level elbow, but Griff gets him up for a back suplex. But Malakai fights that and Griff’s leg gives out! Malakai KICKS that leg, then JUMP KNEES Griff right down! Griff sits up, flounders, but Malakai kicks his arm away.

Malakai lifts Griff with his foot, but then kisses him goodnight before going after that leg! DEEP HALF CRAB!! Griff taps, Malakai wins!

Winner: Malakai Black, by submission

Malakai won’t stop, either! BPJ gets in and shoves Malakai away. BPJ checks on Griff, but turns around into the BLACK MASS!! BPJ goes down, Black has destroyed the Blonds! What more will Malakai do to tear down the shining lights in AEW?

Matt Hardy & Private Party speak.

“Jurassic Express, what an adorable moment you shared with the Lucha Bros.” Marq Quen mockingly says it almost made him cry. But congratulations, Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus are still #1 contenders to the tag team titles. But Hardy wants to see Private Party to take that from them! So for Christmas Rampage, Isiah Kassidy will pound Jungle Boy’s ass, and even injure him! Kassidy pretends to get a phone call, and he says that all he has to do is take JB out, and Private Party are the new #1 contenders. Nice! If JB is injured, that status is DELETED!

Jurassic Express & Christian Cage respond.

Kassidy thinks he’s going to pound JB’s ass? Don’t think so. What is going to happen is that Jurassic Express will wake up on Christmas morning, open their presents, hit the boards real quick, then head to the arena. JB will bring a big lump of coal to shove up Kassidy’s ass! And after Rampage, Kassidy will be spittin’ out diamonds. Christian adds that “those two little dipshits, Private Party can wear as many watches as they want. It will never be their time so long as Jurassic Express is here!” The Hardy Family Office won’t walk away with Jurassic Express’ #1 contender spot, but it is Christmas. They should get something nice, so how about going to AEW Shop and buying some of these limited edition Jurassic Express Christmas shirts? Merry Christmas!

Six Man Tag: MJF & FTR VS CM Punk, Darby Allin & Sting!

Max, Dax & Cash claim they’re family, living legends, and the top guys of AEW. But will they be able to win without using that Dynamite Diamond Ring, those AAA Tag Team Championships or Tully Blanchard? Or is MJFTR just SOL against the Best in the World, the Relentless One & The Icon?

The trios sort out, MJF starts against Punk. Punk’s sporting the Bladerunner surfer Sting face paint from the 90s and fans are fired up as Punk and MJF circle. MJF then tags out to Dax and fans boo. MJF soaks up the heat like he did something great, and Dax circles with Punk. Dax gets to a corner as fans chant for Punk. Dax and Punk tie up, Punk puts Dax back in the corner, but Dax powers his way out to get a headlock and takeover. Punk headscissors, Dax kips free and hits another headlock takeover, only for Punk to headscissor again. Dax kips free again, hits a third headlock takeover, but Punk again headscissors, and again Dax kips free.

Dax shoves Punk, but Punk smirks and shoves back. Dax SLAPS Punk, so Punk SLAPS Dax! MJF & Cash hurry to Dax’s side but Sting & Darby are ready behind Punk. The ref has the teams back off, Punk and Dax tie up again. Dax headlocks, Punk powers out but Dax runs him over. Things keep moving, Punk hip tosses Dax down! And then arm-drags! Punk wrenches the arm, has the wristlock, but Dax ROCKS him with a forearm! Tag to Cash, but Cash runs into a scoop and SLAM! Punk wrenches Cash’s arm, tags in Darby, and Darby grinds the headlock. Cash powers out, drops down, then CLOBBERS Darby with an elbow! MJF dares fans to chant for Darby now!

Cash drags Darby up to ROCK him with a EuroUpper! Cash brings Darby in to scoop but Darby slips out and drop steps to dropkick! Then a deep arm-drag, a wrench and a wristlock! Cash gets away before Darby can tag out. Fans chant, “We Want Sting!” but MJF tags in. MJF dares Darby to tag someone, and Punk gets in! MJF bails out and runs away! They go around the ring, MJF tags to Cash, but Punk is ready! Cash stays back, fans boo, Punk and Cash knuckle lock. Cash kicks the arm, wrenches it and has the wristlock. Punk fights up, pushes through to wrench and wristlock back! Punk points to him, and tags in STIIIING!

Fans go nuts as Sting wrenches the arm and YANKS it! And YANKS it, and YANKS it! Cash kicks back, whips, but Sting reverses to send Cash at the corner. Cash bumps off buckles, Sting sweeps the legs! Sting grabs those legs but Cash bails out to regroup with Dax. MJF joins FTR to talk it out, but Sting storms over. Cash hotshots Sting down! Tag to MJF, MJF CHOPS, but Sting doesn’t even flinch! MJF grins and dusts Sting off, trying to make nice. MJF gives a thumbs up, Sting grabs that arm! MJF reaches out, Sting brings MJF over, but MJF fights his way back! They tug-o-war, Sting short arm LARIATS MJF down! Tag to Punk, MJF scrambles away! The chase is on again!

MJF goes to the crowd! Punk pursues but MJF is hauling ass up the stairs! They go to the back, run around in the concourse, and then return, going down other steps. They’re heading back for ringside, and MJF baseball slides into the ring! Tag to Cash, MJFTR scramble and Punk has FTR in the way. So Darby DIVES and bowls them all over!! Fans are fired up as AEW goes picture in picture!

Darby drags Cash up and puts him in the ring. Punk kicks Cash around, brings him over and bumps him off buckles. Punk fires forearms again and again, then tags Darby. They mug Cash, Darby fires off, then tags Sting. Sting gets to mug Cash now, and he brings Cash around for a BELL CLAP! And CLAWS to the back! Cash goes to the apron, Sting drags him up to suplex back in! Tag to Punk, he stays between Cash and the corner to stomp him down. Punk hits a RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO! Dax gets in to talk trash but Punk keeps Cash down with a cording hold. Punk slaps Cash around, puts him in a corner and climbs up to rain down fists! Punk gets all ten!

Punk hops off to then DECK Cash with a right hand! Cover, TWO! Punk keeps Cash down with a facelock and brings him over. Tag to Darby, they mug Cash more, and Darby fires off knees! The ref reprimands the hair pulling but Darby CHOPS Cash in the corner. Darby cravats and has a standing neck wrench but Cash endures. AEW returns to single picture, Cash reaches out, Dax tags in. Darby throws Cash away to fire off on MJF and Dax! JAWBREAKER for Dax, but Cash FLAPJACK HOTSHOTS Darby! Darby tumbles to apron then to floor, Dax gets Darby up to whip him into railing! MJF stomps away on Darby and then Dax drags Darby up.

Dax suplexes Darby high and hard to the floor, and MJF gloats, “That’s what it’s all about!” MJF puts Darby in for Cash, he tags Dax. Dax drags Darby around to drop the leg, drop the elbow, then drop a headbutt! Dax drags Darby up, tags Cash, and FTR mug Darby with double headbutts! Tag to MJF, he spits water at Punk! The ref is busy with Punk storming in and MJF CHOKES Darby in the corner! Dax adds on, then MJF snapmares Darby to a chinlock. Darby endures, fans rally up and Darby fights up! MJF rakes Darby’s eyes! MJF scoops and SLAMS Darby, then tags Dax. Dax drags Darby up, CHOPS him to ropes, then scoops him to SLAM him again!

Tag to Cash, he steps on Darby’s face! Cash drags Darby up to scoop and SLAM! Tag to MJF, MJF drags Darby up while taunting Punk. MJF scoops to SLAM Darby, steps on his face, and tags Dax. Dax taunts Darby to go tag his partners, and MJF soaks up the heat. Dax scoops and SLAMS Darby again! Tag back to Cash, he stays between Darby and his corner, then taunts Darby to get up. Punk rallies the fans, Cash scoops Darby but Darby makes it a cradle! TWO!! Cash runs in but misses and hits buckles! Darby scoops and SLAMS Cash! Both men are down and fans are thunderous! Hot tag to Sting! Sting rallies on FTR while MJF stays away!

Sting whips Dax corner to corner to bump him off buckles again and again, all three levels! Cash runs in but Sting dodges to then BACK DROP him! MJF runs in, to get a SPINEBUSTER! Sting back bumps Dax, to then STINGER SPLASH Cash! And then one for Dax! Cash runs in but is sent into Dax! Sting holds them back, for Darby to COFFIN SPLASH them both! Punk runs in to SHINING WIZARD them both! Sting then runs in to STINGER SPLASH Dax! Dax flops down, Sting gets the legs! SCORPION DEATHLOCK! But Cash distracts the ref and MJF has Sting for a BULLDOG! Fans boo but Dax covers, TWO! MJF grins while AEW goes picture in picture again.

Dax puts Sting in a corner, throws EuroUppers, but Sting hits back with haymakers! They go back and forth, Sting gets the edge but Dax drop toeholds to then tag in Cash! Cash stomps Sting down, tags MJF, and Cash holds Sting up so MJF can wind up, and rake the eyes! MJF soaks up the heat, then he stomps Sting’s leg! MJF taunts Punk, the ref has to keep him back again, and then MJF CHOKES Sting! MJF covers, TWO! MJF drags Sting over, wrenches, and tags in Dax. They mug Sting, Dax wrenches and wrangles Sting to the mat. Dax thrashes the arm, but Sting endures and fights up. Dax knuckle locks, but Sting fights up, and AEW goes to break.

AEW returns again and Cash has Sting in a cobra twist. Sting endures, fans rally up, and Sting throws Cash off! Cash runs in, DOUBLE LARIATS take both men down! Fans rally, the two men crawl, hot tag to Dax! Dax fires off on Sting in a corner, then whips him corner to corner. Dax mocks Sting and runs in, but into a scoop and SLAM! Sting flounders but Cash helps Dax get back to the corner. MJF tags in to keep Sting from the corner, but Sting hits a BULLDOG in return! Cash grabs at Sting, but Sting falls, head first into MJF’s nuts! MJF writhes in pain, but he manages to tag in Cash. But Sting tags in Punk! Punk jumps in, rallies on FTR, CALF KICK for Cash!

Punk dodges Dax to CALF KICK him! SHINING WIZARD for Cash, SHINING WIZARD for Dax in the other! BULLDOG CLOTHESLINE COMBO! Punk keeps going and he DIVES out onto Dax! Punk then goes to the corner, climbs up top, and CROSSBODIES Cash! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up with Punk as he says it’s time for bed! Punk gets Cash up, but Cash holds ropes! Dax saves Cash and tags, but Punk still fights FTR off with forearms! ROUNDHOUSE for Cash, then a spin and NECKBREAKER for Dax! Cover, TWO! Punk goes back to the corner, but Cash anchors his foot! Punk kicks Cash away, adjusts, but Dax trips him up!

Dax CHOPS Punk, climbs up top to join him, but Punk fights back with body shots! MONGOLIAN CHOPS! Dax fires forearms, Punk gives them back! They brawl up top, Dax wobbles and Punk DECKs him! But Dax gets right back up, Cash tags in! SUPERPLEX and FLYING SPLASH! The Power Play works out, Dax DECKS Sting and Darby! Cash covers, TWO!! Punk survives and FTR is frustrated! Cash DECKS Sting off the apron again, tag to Dax. FTR drags Punk up to double whip, but Punk ducks, and Darby runs in to CROSSBODY Cash and himself out of the ring! Punk O’Conner Rolls Dax, TWO! MJF and Darby CRASH into the timekeeper’s table on the outside!

Dax ROCKS Punk with a right! Punk ROUNDHOUSES Dax down! Fans fire up as both men are on the mat and a standing count begins! Darby crawls from the wreckage, MJF is right behind him. Punk and Dax throw forearm after forearm, then even haymakers! Dax has a busted eyebrow but he’s just firing off more! Punk fires forearms, but spins into a HAYMAKER! Dax runs, into a fireman’s carry! But Dax blocks the GTS, Cash gets in, BIG RIG!! Sting gets in to break the cover! Sting DECKS Cash, but MJF slithers in! MJF kicks Sting, reels him in and smirks, to DDT! But Sting’s right back up while MJF gloats! MJF runs away but Sting YANKS the ropes to jam MJF’s junk!!

Sting brings MJF back in to CHOP and whip to HIP TOSS MJF out onto FTR!! The ref hurries to check on MJF, who hit hard at the railing. But Sting climbs up to aim at FTR! SUPER CROSSBODY onto the Pinnacle!!! Greensboro is losing their minds for the Icon throwing caution to the wind! Sting gets MJF up and in for Punk. MJF flounders, Punk says it’s time for bed! But Dax gets MJF out, and Punk fireman’s carries! G T S, to SCORPION DEATH LOCK! Darby is up top, COFFIN DROP!! Punk covers, Punk’s team wins!!

Winners: CM Punk, Darby Allin & Sting, by pinfall

That was definitely clobbering time! The Best in the World, the Relentless One & The Icon stand tall, but MJF complains on commentary that Punk was the one avoiding him the entire match! MJF says CM Punk is a literal punk and a coward! If that’s so, then when and where will MJF finally back up his words and take on CM Punk?

My Thoughts:

Another great Dynamite, but not much of a holiday related one. Britt’s Christmas party with Schiavone was just that interview, and she was in a comfy armchair with a glass of wine, barely anything else to make it a party. Though I suppose it works in kayfabe as no one else likes Britt. But she had a good promo to hype up her title match with Riho for Battle of the Belts, that is going to be a really good one, but I would think Britt retains. She did have a good point that Riho isn’t always around from how Riho goes back and forth between Japan and the US. We got a great TBS Championship Tournament match out of Nyla VS Ruby, and they did a great job making Ruby’s win a hard earned one.

Speaking of Battle of the Belts, but what is the world title supposed to do if they’re giving us Hangman VS Bryan II on the Dynamite before? Bryan and Hangman had a good promo segment to hype up the rematch, and I do like that Hangman brought up a lot of great alternates for their rematch’s stipulation. Honestly, I forgot until Bryan brought up judges that there were judges at Jericho VS Cody, where Cody lost all rights to challenge for the top title. Will something screwy happen in the rematch to where they’ll give us the third just days later at Battle of the Belts? Or will there be a decisive winner and then they immediately bring up the next contender?

We got an awesome vignette for people to share their feelings about Owen Hart and also plug the Owen Hart Foundation tournaments. I never got a chance to watch him myself, but it’s just as they said: you hear about Owen from those who did know him and can attest to how great he was as both wrestler and person. We got a really good vignette to hype up Sammy VS Cody for Christmas, but I do have to admit Lambert had a good promo to point out the kayfabe of Cody getting stuff just because. Cody really could pile on the heat from the fans by winning on Christmas, and then take on Scorpio and Ethan in consecutive matches and see how fans react to that. It’d be really something if it was either this Christmas Rampage match or the Men of the Year that brought out Cody’s true Heel nature.

We got great stuff all in one segment for the Elite tonight with how Cole VS Cassidy went down. All logical stuff with Best Friends thwarting The Bucks, and then Fish trying it, to then give us the AEW debut of Kyle O’Reilly! For one, this was a given, and I like that we’re already getting this feeling of Cole having to choose between The Elite and the Undisputed Era. Or to put it another way, Cole has to choose between Bullet Club and NJPW or ROH and Future Shock. I really hope this means that when Omega returns, we end up with Elite OG VS Undisputed Era, that is going to be awesome stuff. Also, getting reDRagon back together when WWE dropped the ball in the latter days of NXT 1.0 is a great win for AEW.

We got a good back and forth in the promos from Hardy Family Office and Jurassic Express to hype up some of that, but I would think that’s Jungle Boy’s win. We also got great stuff from Malakai Black and the Varsity Blonds. I almost thought this was going to be where Malakai’s faction started coming together but I guess we’re getting that more for New Year’s Smash or the TBS debut. Deeb had a good promo to hype up the fact that she and Shida are going to be having an extended series of matches. And then we got great stuff out of The Pinnacle. Really good group promo and the passive aggressive disrespect towards Wardlow.

And then of course, we got an awesome Six Man main event, and holy crap MJF taking that bit of a header. Everybody was going pretty hot by the end, but that was the scarier moment in the match. The Faces win, of course, to put it on MJF to man up and face Punk 1v1. I’m also thinking, maybe FTR take on Darby & Sting 2v2. Maybe with the AAA titles on the line? And FTR can even cheat Darby & Sting so that a team signed with AAA can be the ones to dethrone FTR.

My Score: 9.3/10